What are Registered Patent Agents?
I get a lot of questions about being a registered patent agent and how agents are different from patent attorneys. Here is all you need to know about registered agents and patent attorneys.
A registered patent agent is someone who meets requirements established by the USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) to become a registered agent. These requirements include that you have completed masters level course work in a science or engineering field and that you pass a patent bar exam. The patent bar exam is equivalent to the bar exam attorneys take to become registered attorneys, but covers the rules related to patent filing.
A patent attorney would also be (or should be) a registered patent agent. They are attorneys who passed the patent bar exam and became registered agents or vice versa.
Being a registered patent agent allows you to file patent applications for others with the USPTO and prosecute those applications on behalf of the inventors and/or owners of the application. Prosecuting an application means responding to or answering office actions from the patent office. These office actions often are objections to or rejections of claims with reasons why the office feels your patent application should not be granted.
Registered agents are viewed the same as patent attorneys in the eyes of the patent office. That is why hiring a registered patent agent can be a good value for inventors and companies. Often times applicants do not need someone to file a suit or case in a court of law, they need an application written, filed, prosecuted, and hopefully granted by the patent office.
All agents registered with the patent office are listed on their website here.
Still have questions? Comment below or contact me.
A registered patent agent is someone who meets requirements established by the USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) to become a registered agent. These requirements include that you have completed masters level course work in a science or engineering field and that you pass a patent bar exam. The patent bar exam is equivalent to the bar exam attorneys take to become registered attorneys, but covers the rules related to patent filing.
A patent attorney would also be (or should be) a registered patent agent. They are attorneys who passed the patent bar exam and became registered agents or vice versa.
Being a registered patent agent allows you to file patent applications for others with the USPTO and prosecute those applications on behalf of the inventors and/or owners of the application. Prosecuting an application means responding to or answering office actions from the patent office. These office actions often are objections to or rejections of claims with reasons why the office feels your patent application should not be granted.
Registered agents are viewed the same as patent attorneys in the eyes of the patent office. That is why hiring a registered patent agent can be a good value for inventors and companies. Often times applicants do not need someone to file a suit or case in a court of law, they need an application written, filed, prosecuted, and hopefully granted by the patent office.
All agents registered with the patent office are listed on their website here.
Still have questions? Comment below or contact me.
RSS Feed